Sir Alex Ferguson watched Manchester United cruise four points clear at the top of the table, piling the pressure on title rivals Manchester City to respond.

Body blow: Antonio Valencia all but ended Wolvesâ resistance with Manchester Unitedâs second, just before the break (Picture: Getty)

Unitedâs win not only extended their lead over City, it also cut deep into the Bluesâ goal difference advantage, which now stands at only three.

Roberto Manciniâs men play twice before United are in action again, following up Wednesdayâs encounter with Chelsea by visiting Stoke next Saturday. âThey [City] have a big game on Wednesday,â said Ferguson.

âChelsea are back to form so it will be really interesting.

âThe important thing was for us to do our job. There are nine games left and we have to keep whittling them down.

âEventually the games run out and hopefully we will achieve what we want.â

United were never in trouble once Wolves conceded the opening goal to Jonny Evans â his first for the club â and lost Ronald Zubar to a red card after two bookings.

Antonio Valencia drove in an excellent second and Danny Welbeck added another before the break, with Javier Hernandez netting twice in the second half.

Wolves have conceded 14 goals and earned one point from Terry Connorâs four games since he replaced Mick McCarthy.

Connor said: âThe message to the players and to everyone is, âKeep believingâ.

âEveryone will be writing us off again and weâve gone to the bottom of the table but weâve been in these situations before.â